Digital Gods & Digital Goddesses in a Digital World
Dating Violence
Intimate Partner Dating violence is a type of intimate partner violence that occurs between two people in a close relationship.
Like other forms of abuse, teen dating violence happens regardless of race but is more common in low-income populations.
Young adut/teen dating violence perpetrated by any gender or pronoun: female to male; male to female, male to male and female to female.
ABUSE GET WORSE WITH TIME, NOT BETTER
Like most abuse, teen dating violence is a gradual process that escalates with time.
Here are some early warning signs:
Excessive jealousy. Treats you as a possession.
Very controlling-This may include giving you orders, telling you what to wear, and trying to make all the decisions for you.
Attempts to isolate you from friends and family.
Pressures you into sexual activity with which you are not comfortable.
Blames you when he or she treats you badly by telling you all the ways you provoked him or her.
Too serious about the relationship too quickly.
WHAT IS DATING VIOLENCE?
01
Physical:
Slapping, hitting, punching, or any violent act.
02
Sexual:
Forced to perform any sexual act without consent.
03
Emotional:
Name-calling, constant criticism, withholding affection as punishment, shaming & blaming, manipulation & control.
04
Social media & technology: (a) Control-demanding passwords to accounts, (b) cyberstalking, (c)blackmail- threats of releasing explicit pictures or videos
05
Cyber-victimization: Use of technology to harass, humiliate, threaten or insult someone purposely.
Healthy Relationships
have:
Awareness about Teen & Young Adult Dating Violence
Female adolescents may engage in more emotional abuse.
Male adolescents may engage in more physical & sexual abuse.
Some adolescents may not think physical abuse from a female is real abuse.
Some male adolescents may feel ashamed to report teen dating violence.
Some teens may not believe emotional & verbal abuse to be real abuse.
Emotional abuse and verbal abuse are just as hurtful and damaging as physical & sexual abuse.
Female teen victims are at risk for substance abuse, risky sexual practices, pregnancy and suicidality & future partner violence.
HOW TO HELP YOURSELF?
Ask for help from a trusted adult, counselor, nurse or any health care professional.Spend time with friends and family who support and love you. Continue to do activities that you enjoy & make you feel good about yourself. End the relationship.
PREVENTION:
Prevention is the best course to deter dating teen violence. Prevention programs normally focus on the following:
1. Promote & educate about healthy relationships.
2. Support healthy personal and interpersonal development
3. Problems solving skills
4. Conflict management skills
5. Attitudes about violence
RESOURCES:
Dating teen violence is abuse. Abuse often operates in secrecy & shame. Relationships are not meant to be painful or abusive; they are meant to add love and fun into our lives.
If you are experiencing any type of teen dating abuse, help is available.
The National Dating Abuse Helpline: 1.866.331.9474
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or 1.800.787.3224
(TTY)Websites: www.BreaktheCycle.org > click on Learn about Dating Abuse tabwww.Loveisrespect.org